Canned Laughter (sitcom)
| Canned Laughter | |
|---|---|
| Created by | Rowan Atkinson |
| Starring | Rowan Atkinson, Sue Holderness |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| No. of episodes | 1 |
| Production | |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Release | |
| Original network | ITV |
| Picture format | 4:3 |
| Original release | 8 April 1979 |
| Chronology | |
| Related shows |
Dead on Time Mr. Bean |
Rowan Atkinson presents...Canned Laughter was a one-off ITV sitcom featuring Rowan Atkinson broadcast on 8 April 1979. Atkinson plays three roles; the nerdy Robert Box (who has been cited as an early incarnation of the Mr. Bean character, albeit involving more dialogue), his sinister boss Mr. Marshall, and would-be stand-up comic Dave Perry, as well as an uncredited role as a radio announcer. Made by LWT, the 30 minute episode was directed by Geoffrey Sax.
The episode begins with Robert Box sleeping. He rises by the tune of a disco tune playing on his radio alarm, and then shines by the radio station jingle (leading to a cliched advert for a deliberately unidentified product). He then heads to the mirror as he tries to figure out how to ask one woman colleague on a date. As the radio begins to play "Mr. Blue Sky" by ELO, the scene turns to Dave Perry who announces to a neighbour that he has his first major gig at a "swish (posh) restaurant" in Camden Town. Said neighbour, Mrs. Nolan has been sued for divorce by her husband after 45 years of marriage.
Still at home, Robert shaves in a rather awkward fashion. He then finds out he's late for work and eats a spoonful of instant coffee and one of sugar, and takes a sip of cream and one of water, and finally shakes himself up before leaving his flat. Meanwhile Perry takes a bus to Sloane Square, where a sarcastic bus conductor proceeds to take a slice off a pound bill since Dave just had 15 pence instead of the 16p the conductor charged him, disbelieving the fact that Perry was in fact a comedian.
The scene then turns again to Box, who is shown running to work, tripping with a "Help the Blind" sign in the process. At work, Mr. Marshall has refused the whole office a pay increase in light of most workers chain-smoking (A co-worker then hides a cigarette on one of Robert's pockets). After the meeting, Box summons up the courage to ask Lorraine (Sue Holderness) on the date. The act ends with Robert's coat getting on fire because of the cigarette, with "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" on the background.
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